Just a few Sundays ago we shared the familiar story known as ‘Loaves and fishes.’ Even if you were not at church that Sunday you probably remember the story from your childhood days. The Bible tells us that there were 5,000+ people gathered that day to listen to Jesus and experience his teaching and healing. Towards the end of the day Jesus told the disciples to feed everyone. When the disciples said they couldn’t, a few loaves and fishes were found, Jesus broke the bread, and everyone ate until they were full and there were leftovers beyond belief.
This story reminded me of a ministry we have here at Lafayette Park United Methodist Church. It is a ministry that has nurtured, healed, and supported untold numbers of people. Some of you may have never heard about it, or you have heard about it and just didn’t know what it was. Others of you were the creators of this ministry.
As I understand the story, many years ago, we had a member in our congregation who was in a really stressful place in their life. They were very ill and unable to work. They didn’t have income enough to cover their housing, their food, or their medicine. Some of our members decided to do something about this situation, and created the ‘Loaves and Fishes’ ministry. This is an account where people can donate money to the church and then as a need arises, there are resources available to help people.
In the four years that I have been at Lafayette Park, this fund has helped people purchase medicine that they can not afford to purchase, pay a utility bill that couldn’t be covered, cover a month’s rent for someone digging out of a disaster, purchase a stove for who was unable to purchase one when their stove died, and even transportation to a family funeral, just to name a few.
Last year Jim and I encountered a young man that we had known for over a decade. He was homeless, unemployed, and had some medical complications based upon his HIV status. He had fled from an abusive relationship which placed him in this situation. After consultation with a few of the church leaders, this fund was used to help him with part of the deposit for an apartment. The impact of this donation enabled him to get a home find employment, and deal with his significant health issues. I am pleased to tell you that he is doing great and has recently received a promotion at his job. Whenever this fund is used, it is used in such a way as to provide the recipient with confidentiality and dignity.
There are countless people that have benefited from the sharing of our resources. I would like to take the opportunity to thank those of you who support this ministry, especially those who make a monthly contribution. Thank you for the way you bless me when I am able to see the look of relief that comes into people’s eyes when I can tell them that we can help them get their medicine, or give them a grocery card to purchase food for their family. Thank you for your faithful support of this ministry. Truly you create a miracle in many lives through your support. Thank you for the way you help our church live out the calls of Jesus in Matthew 25, “I was hungry and you fed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me.” Through the Loaves and Fishes ministry we have fed, clothed, and helped heal members of our church and close community. Thank you for creating this ministry and supporting it all these years. Truly, the miracle of loaves and fishes continues. Thank you.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Kathleen
lppastor@sbcglobal.net
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Time with Sharon: Healing our Hurting World
September 2008
I recently was blessed to hear a presentation by Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission. He talked about how hard it is for people who are hungry, sick, or imprisoned to believe that God is good. Their lives are full of pain and misery. He asked us, “What evidence can they see about them that there is a good God who loves them?”
Ahhhh, that’s where we come in. You see God has a plan to heal our hurting world. And, my friends, we are it. It is through our loving actions…feeding the hungry, providing medicine and care for the sick, reading books to youngsters who struggle, and advocating for those caught in unjust systems in our culture…that God’s love is seen, heard, and felt. An encouraging word, a listening ear, a ride to the doctor, a net to protect a family that we might never meet from malaria-bearing mosquitoes, getting involved in a grassroots effort to pass legislation to ease the suffering of the voiceless. These, and a million others, are all ways that we participate in God’s plan to bring healing and wholeness to the world. And THAT is how folks begin to experience the goodness of God…through us.
It occurs to me that it is an incredible privilege to be invited to participate in God’s great action plan of healing! Every one of us has received the invitation. As we walk in the way of Jesus, we are responding to that invitation.
One way we can respond is through participation in the feeding program at our sister-church, Centenary UMC. We meet every first Tuesday of the month, from 4:30-6:30. Come join us on September 2nd (Contact Daron Smith, or just show up). Another way is to get involved in supporting the children of our neighborhood through cooperative efforts with Sigel and Hodgen Elementary Schools. There is a great need to provide reading tutors for kids who have learning lags (see me immediately if this idea gooses your interest). Has God’s Spirit put a ministry opportunity on your heart that reaches out in the name of the God of love and justice? Then let’s talk. I would love to hear what God is whispering in your ear.
There’s a hurting world all around us…but God has a plan for healing. And we’re it!
What an amazing and trusting God we love.
Peace,
Pastor Sharon
lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
I recently was blessed to hear a presentation by Gary Haugen, founder of International Justice Mission. He talked about how hard it is for people who are hungry, sick, or imprisoned to believe that God is good. Their lives are full of pain and misery. He asked us, “What evidence can they see about them that there is a good God who loves them?”
Ahhhh, that’s where we come in. You see God has a plan to heal our hurting world. And, my friends, we are it. It is through our loving actions…feeding the hungry, providing medicine and care for the sick, reading books to youngsters who struggle, and advocating for those caught in unjust systems in our culture…that God’s love is seen, heard, and felt. An encouraging word, a listening ear, a ride to the doctor, a net to protect a family that we might never meet from malaria-bearing mosquitoes, getting involved in a grassroots effort to pass legislation to ease the suffering of the voiceless. These, and a million others, are all ways that we participate in God’s plan to bring healing and wholeness to the world. And THAT is how folks begin to experience the goodness of God…through us.
It occurs to me that it is an incredible privilege to be invited to participate in God’s great action plan of healing! Every one of us has received the invitation. As we walk in the way of Jesus, we are responding to that invitation.
One way we can respond is through participation in the feeding program at our sister-church, Centenary UMC. We meet every first Tuesday of the month, from 4:30-6:30. Come join us on September 2nd (Contact Daron Smith, or just show up). Another way is to get involved in supporting the children of our neighborhood through cooperative efforts with Sigel and Hodgen Elementary Schools. There is a great need to provide reading tutors for kids who have learning lags (see me immediately if this idea gooses your interest). Has God’s Spirit put a ministry opportunity on your heart that reaches out in the name of the God of love and justice? Then let’s talk. I would love to hear what God is whispering in your ear.
There’s a hurting world all around us…but God has a plan for healing. And we’re it!
What an amazing and trusting God we love.
Peace,
Pastor Sharon
lpassociate@sbcglobal.net
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